Advanced Reloading Forum

Want to put this out for discussion as there are many thoughts and opinions regarding which type primer is considered the best for L/R and accuracy at Long Ranges . Standard Large Rifle Primer Magnum Large Rifle Primer BR2 Large Rifle PrimerEach seems to have "some advantage" , combined with changes and variations in load weights , and bullet type and weight . Which type primer do you use for Long Range , and what is the thought , reasoning , and data for that choice ? Since all M-N's are different creatures and shoot individually , I don't think anyone will be giving away any ancient Chinese secrets .Please list the following so we can all learn from this and save a lot of time and money regarding load development . Cartridge Powder load Bullet OALMaybe one small piece of information you supply can turn another members 3 or 4 moa rifle to sub-moa , and that's a "win" for all of us . Thanks , Grindl

I've used several brands of primers and like Federals the best of all brands. I've experimented with standard and magnum primers and found the you can get results using magnum primers and a little less powder. OAL is established by measuring each chamber and "Long Loading" so the bullet is off the lands by .014.My most accurate load is 50.3gr of IMR4350 over a standard Federal 210 primer under a 175gr SMK. OAL is 3.015

My Mosin and Mauser builds use the same barrel blank and chamber reamer and consequently shoot almost identically with the same load of 53.5gr of 4350 behind a 174gr SMK bullet. I use some very old CCI 200 primers I've had in my stash for maybe 20 years. I also got good 200 yard results with 44gr of Varget.

I wanted to test those loads along with some 150gr pro hunters through one of my PSL's that also shared the barrel blank source and reamer but the shots were all over the place due to punctured primers. I got one decent group (1 1/8" not great) when I had five 150gr shots in a row that didn't pierce the primers.

I've been old that CCI#34 primers are harder, just need to locate some locally.

For those who haven't had a chance to get them yet , one of the newer primers on our American market is the Sellior & Belloit , or as we know them , S & B . I read a article regarding L-R primers by Laurie Holland , a highly regarded shooter from Great Britain , and after some very extensive testing , the S&B L/R primer rated in at #2 over-all , and had the lowest S/D of all primers tested , ranking above the highly rated CCI-BR2 , and many others . I purchased 2,000 when they were first introduced at my local Cabella's for $19.00 per 1,000 and it is probably the best $40.00+ to come out of my shooting budget in awhile . They are as described in the article . Consistent on ignition , and they have a hard cup which lends well to our M-N firing pins . So ; unless you have a stash of Wolf primers in the back of the cabinet ,try the S&B L/R primer . It's all I will load for Match rounds , and I have them loaded in my Berger rounds ....Good stuff . Five stars for sure .

Update to my promoting the S&B primers . I went to my local Cabela's to buy more S&B primers , and found the shelf empty , and the tags removed . When I inquired with the floor-man about it , he told me they wouldn't be carrying them anymore , and didn't know why , as they were a great sales item .

My next thought was to call S&B-U.S. in Minnesota and find out what the issue was . Turns out that S&B stopped importing primers to the U.S. several years ago , with the exception of a contract they had with Cabela's . And with the merger of Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's , BPS cancelled the contract , and no more S&B primers .

To add insult to injury ; Bass Pro is cutting down on the amount of reloading powders , bullets , and other shooting items , and reducing the size of the Gun / Shooting areas of all Cabella's stores , to make more room for outdoors items and clothing . It's already happened to our local store in Glendale , Az. And the final slap in the face to gun owners ? They've raised the prices ridiculously on reloading powder . Two weeks ago ; I bought a 1 lb. bottle of Varget for $29.95 , and now , that same 1 lb. bottle is $40.99 ....Same powder , same store . Needless to say , My shadow will never darken any Bass Pro Shop or Cabela's again . Let them turn into another *'s Sporting Goods . How's that workin out for them ? Check "THEIR" stock price ?